Basle. We hastened on like the river. Basle is
the first town of importance on the Rhine.

Here we obtained a fine view of the Black Forest range of hills, and
beheld the distant summits of the Jura and the Vosges.

[Illustration: A VILLAGE IN THE BLACK FOREST.]

Basle was a Roman fortified town in the days of the struggles of Rome
with the Barbarians. It is gray with history,--with the battles of
Church and State, battles of words, and battles of deeds and blood.
But the sunlight was poured upon it, and the Rhine flowed quietly by,
and the palaces of peace and prosperity rose on every hand, as
though the passions of men had never been excited there, or the soil
reddened with blood.

[Illustration: PEASANT'S HOUSE IN THE BLACK FOREST.]

We took a principal street on our arrival, and followed the uncertain
way. It led to the cathedral, on high ground. At the entrance to the
grand old church stood the figures of St. George and St. Martin on
prancing horses. The interior was high and lofty, with an imposing
organ. Here we read on one of the tombs, "Erasmus of Rotterdam."

The famous Black Forest is comprised within the lines of an isosceles
triangle, which has Basle and Constance at each end of the line of
base. The Rhine turns toward the north at Basle, and very nearly
follows two lines of the figure. The forest covers an area of about
twelve hundred square miles. It is a romantic seclusion, having Basle,
Freiburg, and Baden-Baden for its cities of supply and exchange; full
of pastoral richness, lonely grandeur; a land of fable and song.

The Black Forest Railway is one of the great triumphs of engineering
skill. It is ninety-three miles long, and has some forty tunnels. It
takes the traveller from Baden at once into the primeval solitudes.
Freiburg, a very quaint town, is situated in the forest.

* * * * *

Master Lewis spoke briefly to the Club of Von Moltke, the great
Prussian general.

MARSHAL VON MOLTKE.

Never was a nation more fortunate in its leaders than was Prussia
when she aimed to achieve German unity. It is often the case that
when some great crisis comes upon a country, men able to deal with
it rise and become the guides of the people. This was never more
true than it was of Prussia when, thirteen years ago, she entered
upon the war with France which was to decide not only her own
destiny, but that of the whole German people.

Three P